Aging into later life can bring many concerns, one of the biggest concerns with aging is falling. The CDC estimates that 1 in 3 seniors will fall at least once a year. One of the biggest predictors of having a fall is already having a previous fall. This can be worrisome not only for the person involved, but also the families. To prevent something as serious as a fall from happening the first time, it is important to review 5 steps that have been proven to help prevent falls.

One of the first steps in preventing a fall is reviewing medications, certain medications have been linked to increasing falls in seniors. Such medications include: sedatives and tranquilizers, antipsychotics, nighttime drugs, over-the-counter medication, medications that cause drowsiness. If these medications are taken, it is important to review them with a doctor to assess the amount of risk of falling involved.

Checking blood pressure while sitting and standing is the second important step in fall prevention. A substantial drop in blood pressure when a person stands up or changes position is known as postural. Drops in blood pressure is common for older adults, especially for those who are taking medicine to lower blood pressure. Blood pressure treatment has in fact been linked to some of the most serious falls in older adults.

The third step in preventing a fall involves a balance evaluation. If you or someone who know has noticed difficulty with walking or standing should seek an evaluation by a doctor. These evaluations are covered by Medicare and can be very useful in preventing a fall from occuring. Strength and balance exercises may be recommended to insure this. Along with these exercises, taking a daily walk can be very helpful in improving balance.

A home safety assessment may be one of the most important parts to preventing a fall. A set up of a home and placement of furniture and other household items can easily set a person up for a bad fall. Having a home healthcare agency to have an Occupational Therapist come and evaluate the home for possible falls is an easy way to prevent something serious from happening.

The final step in fall prevent consists of getting enough Vitamin D. Taking 1,000 IU per day will help insure that a person is getting the recommended amount of Vitamin D. A deficiency in Vitamin D can lead to fragile bones and may cause a fall.

Keeping our bodies filled with energy and balance are two important keys to a healthy lifestyle. Acupuncture is a healthy and natural way to cure physical or mental ailments. This practice first began more 2,500 years ago in China and since has been used to diagnose, treat, and improve general health. The main effectiveness of acupuncture comes from modifying the flow of energy in the body.

When acupuncture is performed, the patients can either lay face up or face down (depending on which points need to be used). Then a single use disposable needle is inserted. When the needle is inserted it can cause a sting or tingling sensation at first, then the needle remains there for five to thirty minutes. While the needle remains in place the patient may feel a dull ache, but the treatment is relatively painless. By placing the needles into certain points it brings the energy flow back into proper balance.

The best part of acupuncture is that it is all natural! There are little to none side effects, it can be combined with other treatments, it can control various types of pain, and helps patients stay off medication. Acute problems can be cured from eight to twelve sessions, while chronic may take one to two sessions a month for several months.

There are many misconceptions about natural remedies, but medications, surgeries, or other treatments haven’t worked for you, then give acupuncture a chance. It has been known to not only cure illnesses, but to also prevent future medical problems from arising. Using acupuncture can be the start of a new way to healthier and natural lifestyle.

Blog written by Kiara Tucker, University of Northern Colorado Student and past Covell Care Intern.

Preventative care is extremely important throughout your lifetime, but especially as you age. The aging process takes a toll on your body and makes everyday tasks become increasingly difficult. With a proactive approach you can lessen this impact by the use of physical therapy. Physical therapy will reduce the risk for injury by increasing your flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. With increased abilities, you can regain your independence and maintain a higher quality of life. Another added benefit from physical therapy is you can stay away from more medication and reduce your pain naturally. The most common argument to physical therapy is the cost, but when you look at all of the costs for avoiding physical therapy, you can see that it is one of the more cost-effective options. If you wait until your pain is too bad, you will most likely not be able to fix it without undergoing surgery. The cost of surgery and all the medication that comes with it is typically far more than you would spend on physical therapy. By waiting until surgery is necessary, your quality of life diminishes daily. Even after surgery, there can be a long recovery period. This is all in hopes that the surgery will be successful. The best option is to start physical therapy sooner rather than later when you feel your physical abilities are being limited.

Give Covell Care a call today to ask more about physical therapy and the benefits. (970) 204-4331

People of all ages live with bowel and/or bladder issues. Bowel and bladder dysfunction arise for various reasons: childbirth, prostate issues, a recent surgery, cancer treatment, lack of pelvic floor strength, the food & drink a person consumes and the list goes on.

There is even a thought that incontinence is just a normal part of aging. I am here to tell you that is not the case. Whether you suffer from stress or urge bladder incontinence, bowel incontinence or mix…You can take back your life and make changes NOW!

It is good to understand what a healthy bowel and bladder look like.

The average bladder can hold 2 cups of urine before needing to be emptied.

We should urinate 6-8 times in 24 hours, and have a bowel movement 3x/day-3x/week. As we age we may need to go more because our bladder shrinks but should not need to go more than every 2 hours.

Urine should flow out easily without straining and should come out in a steady stream.

An urge is the sensation you feel as the bladder stretches and fills. It does not always mean your bladder is full and urges should be controlled.

The winter months are a season that all drivers give thought to cautious driving when weather changes and also seems to be a time when older drivers question if they should even go out on the roads. It is hard for families to truly understand when their loved one is at risk for an accident, when to reach out for expert help or if driving should even be an option.

It is a good idea to keep in mind the many warning signs that driving is a concern. If one warning sign is present that person may benefit from further discussion on driving with their physician, participation in a driving program or worse case scenario stop driving. AAA has many resources to support this decision and senior drivers (https://seniordriving.aaa.com/). Below is a list of warning signs to keep in mind when making a decision on next steps of a loved one’s driving ability.

The senior driver has been issued two or more traffic tickets or warnings in the past two years. Tickets can predict greatest risk for collision.

The senior driver has been involved in two or more collisions or “near-misses” in the past two years. Rear-end crashes, parking lot fender-benders and side collisions while turning across traffic rank as the most common mishaps for drivers with diminishing skills, depth perception or reaction time.

Does the senior driver confuse the gas and brake pedals or have difficulty working them? Drivers who lift their legs to move from the accelerator to the brake, rather than keeping a heel on the floor and pressing with the toes, may be signaling waning leg strength.

Does the senior driver seem to ignore or miss stop signs and other traffic signals? Perhaps the driver is inattentive or cannot spot the signs in a crowded, constantly moving visual field.

Does the senior driver weave between or straddle lanes? Signaling incorrectly or not at all when changing lanes can be particularly dangerous, especially if the driver fails to check mirrors or blind spots.

Do other senior drivers honk or pass frequently, even when the traffic stream is moving relatively slowly? This may indicate difficulty keeping pace with fast-changing conditions.

Does the senior driver get lost or disoriented easily, even in familiar places? This could indicate problems with working memory or early cognitive decline.

Does the driver have a history of falls? If yes, they are 40% more likely to be involved in a crash.

Has there been a new diagnosis? Note ‘red flag’ diagnosis: sleep apnea, dementia, MS, Parkinson’s, diabetes.

Take this list as a guide in your next conversation or car ride with a loved one. Please contact our office with specific questions on Covell Care’s driving rehabilitation program.

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Covell Care & Rehabilitation looks at outpatient therapy in a new way. We see clients where they are: in our clinic, their home or a community setting. Each day we strive to integrate clients back into their community, keep them safe and think outside the box with our treatments.

Want to be a part of our world? Contact us today to learn about career opportunities with Covell Care. We are always looking to add qualified, innovative people to our team.

This crew makes working hard easy! Transitioning to new software never sounds fun but making decisions to support your clients, staff and operations is always the best idea! Thank you to our team and interns for making this happen! #clinicient #covellcare #OT #PT #SLP #privatepractice ...